First woman ever from Cal Tech wins Nobel Prize

(FOX 11) - For the first time in the history of the Nobel Prize, an American woman was awarded the coveted prize for chemistry. Only four other women in the world have won.

Frances Arnold has been teaching at Cal Tech for over 3 decades.

Now she's making history there, as the first female ever from the school to win a Nobel Prize .

Doctor Frances Arnold from Cal Tech is sharing the top prize in chemistry with scientists George Smith and Gregory Winter.

Arnold produced enzymes that have led to a better way to make drugs and fuels.

She's discovered an environmentally friendly way to make one of the drugs for type 2 diabetes and enzymes created using her technique have also replaced toxic chemicals in everyday items like laundry detergent.

In addition to advancing science, she's breaking ground for women.

Arnold is also the first woman in America to win the Nobel Prize in chemistry, according to Cal Tech.